All posts filed under: Food

Is there anything better than a warm cinnamon roll? And what else could be more appropriate during these divine Autumn days then pumpkin cinnamon rolls? Autumn in North Carolina is a childhood dream come true. Leaves, smells, scarves and pumpkin everything make my heart happy. After living here a while, I realize that autumn is so much more than a California girl’s seasonal dreams. The humidity and the mosquitoes go away. That means more time outside with your family, more memories to make.

When I asked if I could make a cake for my friend Heather’s baby shower, I was told that the theme was “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” and the colors were white gray and gold. That was it. I could have made anything. White cake, carrot cake, gingerbread, whatever. I guess because I wasn’t given more direction, I let my imagination do the deciding. You can say I got a little carried away when I made this Chocolate & the Kitchen Sink Cake, but I have no regrets.

My Mediterranean Cheesy Penne has everything, the creaminess of a macaroni and cheese filled with vegetables and a unique flavor your babysitter will love. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak vegetables all in one pan! This dish keeps really well, and can be made ahead of time, then reheated.

You’ve heard it said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s the truth. The more nutrients you can pack in the early hours, the better off you’ll be throughout the day. For months now, my husband has been making me chia pudding for breakfast, and it is a life-saver.

Mmm, I love cheese, but you already know this. I just learned this week that Chanukah is a traditionally a dairy holiday, so what could be more perfect than these delicately light appetizers? French Cheese Puffs are great for both Chanukah and New Year’s Eve!

Right, so champagne donuts. I basically adapted my Guinness donuts recipe to make these festive morsels. I decided to switch it up from the other sufganiyot posts I’ve been writing, and make a more traditional donut and donut holes. After all, do champagne donuts really need filling? No, I didn’t think so.

There are so many great things to make with cheddar cheese, but this cheese is like a kiss to the tastebuds, a full-on *muah*. Should I shred it and smother something with it? Nah. This cheese can stand on its own. Let’s just deep fry it instead. Deep Fried Cheddar Cheese is going to make you sing “Hallelujah!” Believe me. It’s going to be the best Hallelujah you’ve ever sung. You’re going to sing it so well, you’ll get tired of being the best at singing “Hallelujah.”

What could be a more festive Chanukah cookie than deep fried cookie dough? I know, I’m a genius, right? Sinful and delicious, they are sinfully delicious. Personally, I like it when the deep fried cookie dough cools a bit, and you are actually biting into cookie dough covered in fry batter. I’m the worst, you guys. I love this kind of food, and I don’t care who knows about it. There, I said it. I hope all of you who were thinking about a kale salad for lunch are craving deep fried cookie dough now.

When I began to think about what Chanukah recipes I should put together, the very first thing that came to mind was churros, and we have a lot of extra pumpkin, and the two make a great pair. I don’t know when I was first introduced to churros, but growing up in California, churros were a way of life. When I went to college, it seemed that the only place to get a churro was Disneyland, and I haven’t found a churro to taste in North Carolina. When I made these pumpkin churros, the smells, crunch and taste felt a bit like going home, and also felt like I was adding at least 7 pounds to my body.